How to Remove Fungus From Clothing

Mold and mildew are types of fungus that thrive in warm, damp environments. Clothing can grow mold and mildew on it if it is left damp, such as towels crumpled on a bathroom floor. To prevent these fungi from growing on your clothes, dry all your laundry thoroughly right after you wash it. If you find mold and mildew growing on washable clothing, it can be removed. If it is growing on non-washable clothing, have the item dry cleaned.

Things You'll Need

Brush

1 cup laundry detergent

Lemon

Salt

Bleach

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Take the clothing with fungus on it outside and brush off any visible stains with the brush as best you can.

Fill your washing machine with warm to hot water and add 1 cup of laundry detergent. Wash on a normal cycle. Remove the clothing when the washing machine is done.

Check the clothing for remaining mold and mildew. If they remain, apply 1 to 3 tsp. of lemon juice to the stain and rub 1 tsp. of salt into the lemon juice. Lay the garment out in the sun to dry.

Fill a bucket with warm to hot water and add 1 to 2 tbsp. peroxygen bleach or chlorine bleach to the water. Allow the garment to soak in the water for 15 to 30 minutes and rinse well to remove all of the bleach. This step is only needed if the lemon did not remove the fungus.

Tips & Warnings

Check to make sure the clothing is bleach safe before using bleach on it.